Knitting apparatus



Sept. 8, 1942. R. KRETsr-:R 2,294,917

KNITTING APPARATUS Enea Jan'. 27, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 A A rra/wey@ Patented Sept. 8, 1942 ENT loFFIela KNITTING --APPARA'rUs Raymond Kretser, New York, N. Y. I Application January 27, 1941, Serial No. 376,061'

Claims. (Cl. Gli- 135).-

The present invention relates to knitting apparatus and more particularly to\appaatus for practicing the knitting methods and for producing the knitted fabrics described and claimed in my co-pending application led July 31st, 1940, Serial No. 348,754.

In .my said application I described a method whereby a multiplicity of individual yarns, a numberrfar greater than heretofore possible, may be incorporated, by knitting, into a knitted fabric in which each stitch consists of yarn from but a single yarn feed and in which'several different forms of stitches are formed, to thereby provide knitted fabrics of greater variety and complexity of color and `v-.design than heretofore possible and which are of light weight and of relatively reduced elasticity in all directions.

The method therein described, broadly stated,

- consists in eliminatingcertain of the needles on a machine from lknitting course-wise stitches, in the conventional manner, in a particular course, and in supplying to each of such eliminated needles an `individual yarn to be knitted by it in stitches that are connected walewise of the knitted fabric; the course-wise and Wale-wise stitches being xfloated across one'another and the oats interlocked with the stitches.

`In my said application I have also explained that this new method of knitting may be combined with the methods for producing variety in color and design in course-wise knitting as heretofore` practiced; that it may be practiced in addition to other methods and not as a substitute for them. l

It is the object of the present invention to provide knitting apparatus of a type which has long been sought in the art but heretofore never attained, namely, a circular knitting machine that could knit vertically or Wale-wise ofthe fabric, as wellas horizontally or course-wise of the fabric and which could utilize individual yarns for each individual needle on the cylinder.

It is the object of the present invention to teach the combination and arrangement of the elementsy and parts of a knitting machine toenable the elimination of certain needles from course-wise knitting, in a particular course, and to enable the knitting upon said eliminated needles of individual yarns in a series of walewise connected loop stitches which are incorporated in the fabric by interlocking with, the float of the coursewise stitches knitted upon the other needles.

means for the great multiplicity of individual' yarn spools necessary to supply each of the multiplicity of needles eliminated from course-wise knitting in the several courses formed during a revolution of the apparatus, which may equal theentire lnumber of needles on the cylinder,- with an individual yarn, and means to guide theI numerous yarns in spaced, readily separable and easily accessible arrangement, 'for facility in threading, repairing breaks, and the like.

While, as I have explained in my said co'- pending application, many types of knittingmachines may be adapted and arranged for the practice of the knitting methods described, I have chosen, in the accompanying drawings, to illustrate the principle and practice of the invention by a. conventional, well known knitting apparatus of the stationary, cylindrical needlebed type, which is provided with needle raising and yarn guiding mechanism and yarn feed stations movable relative the needle bed.

As such apparatus is well known to and the operative linkage and arrangement of. its parts well understood by those skilled inthe. art, I have illustrated such knitting apparatus in the accompanying drawings, except for such new and novel parts which constitute part of the present invention, in a.,;more` or less diagrammatic or schematic manner, not having thought it necessary to show details of the structure of the various standard parts or of their specific operative linkage to one another or with the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, laid It is also an object of the present invention fingers.

out fiat to illustrate the several1 types of knitting done.on the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the apparatus of the present invention, showing, morel or less diagrammatically, the relative arrangement of the operative parts and the structure and relative arrangement of the spool rack from which yarn is supplied to the Awrap Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one ofthe spool supporting elements of the rack showing the relative arrangement of the Generally stated, the invention consists in pro-4 viding a knitting machine of the character described with a. plurality of groups of cams or other means for raising needles to latch clearing position, such as pattern wheels, arranging the cams of each set, each to move selected needles on the lcylinder to latch clearing position, with all of the cams of each group complementing one another and combining to raise all of the needles on the cylinder to latch clearing position; the

v cams and cylinder being arranged to be movable relative one another; providing mechanism, such as stripers, movable synchronously with the cams, for guiding yarn to the needles raised to latch clearing position by certain of said cams, providing relatively stationary,l individual yarn guiding and feeding means. such as wrap fingers, for each needle raised to latch clearing position by the others of the said cams; and providing cam means for synchronizing the movement of the guiding and feeding mechanism with the latch clearing movement of their respective needles and providing means for supplying, leading and spacing individual yarns for each of the guiding and wrapping ngers.

The last named means includes a plurality of spaced spool supporting members pyramidically -disposed above the needle cylinder, and a guide plate having. an individual guiding aperture for each yarn, disposed in convenient position relative the wrap fingers, such as at approximately the level of such fingers.

groups of cams 5l and intermediate cams adapted to raise all of the needles 5I on the cylinder l2 to tucking position, cams above cams 56 lowering the needles to welting position, and each associated with a pattern wheel; such as A, B or C, each provided with jacks-23, selectively arranged to move selected needles raised by the associated cam 5I to latch clearing or knitting position. The Jacks 23o! the several pattern wheels are so set that the several pattern wheels complement one another to raise all of the needles on 4the cylinder to latch clearing position, without any needle being raised by more than one wheel during any revolution ofa set of wheels about the cylinder 52. In this manner each set of cams 56 and associated pattern wheels produces one knitted course of single yarn stitches during each-revolution thereof about the cylinder 52.

v 'I'he number of pattern wheels in each set may be two or more, as may be desired. In the illustrative embodiment of the drawings, the pattern wheels and associated cams are employed in sets of three, and the wheels are designated in the order'in which they operate, as A, B and C, respectively.

Any desired number of sets or groups of pattern wheels and cams may be used within limitations of space, such number of sets determining the number of courses knitted during each complete revolution of ring -I3 about the cylinder I2. Thus, for example, in my aforementioned copending application, the number of sets of pattern wheels A, B and C, mounted on' rin'g I3, as evidenced by the number of courses knitted during each revolution, is four.

One or more pattern wheels, such as A and B,

in the drawings, are each associated with a mov- Referring more speciilcally to the apparatus of the present invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, such apparatus includes a needle bed, such as the stationary needle cylinder 52, which may be of conventional design, on which may be conventiohally mounted needles. 50, preferably of uniform, conventional, standard type throughout, and having the conventional latches 5I.

A rotary table, generally designated as 53, and comprising multiple rings in unitary structure,

of the conventional type, is arranged about the needle cylinder 52. Such table may consist of a lower, or cam ring I3, which is connected with the drive of the apparatus (not shown) on which may be mounted the cams for raising and lowering the needles; an intermediate ring I4, on whichmay be mounted yarn guides, such as stripers, associated with knives, latch openers and other conventional devices not of importance Lin connection with the present invention; and

an uppermost ring I5, on the upper face of which may be mounted the bobbin rack frame support- -ing posts I0, and on the underside of which may bemounted .wrap finger actuating cams 21'.

The posts I6 may carry, at their bases, the

conventional gears 20, which mesh .on'one side, L

with a stationary gear ring 2| and on the inside of the apparatus with a second stationary gear ring 22 lying above the opening of the needle cylinder 52 and serve to steady the rotary table and the structure supported thereon.

The lower ring I3 carries a plurality of sets or able yarn guide, to feed a yarn to all of the needles selectively raised by its associated wheel to latch clearing position. This guiding means may consist of stripers, such as the stripers A' and B', each of which may have a plurality of arms 5I such `as the four illustrated.

These stripers may be of conventional type and conventionally set up on intermediate ring Il, to be operated for change of yarn, in' accordance with a predetermined pattern or design, by conventional cams, not thought necessary to be shown. They may be associated with conventional knives, also not thought necessary to be shown, as these do not constitute part of the present invention.

Yarn for each of the stripers is, preferably, supplied from an associated group of bobbins 51 ntted on bobbin supports 25 arranged on the rack 26 which is supported on' posts I8 mounted on the upper ring l5. Each group of bobbins, vdesignated diagrammatically, by way of illustration, as Az and B2, supplies the yarn for the arms of stripers A' and B', respectively.

It will be readily apparent that the bobbins move synchronously with the stripers A' and B 'and with the pattern wheels A and B, and thatthe yarns fed by stripers A' and B', one at a time, such as yarns a and b, will be'knitted by the needles raised by pattern wheels A and B, respectively, in alternate series of course-Wiseconnected stitches oi' the conventional jersey type. the connecting portions between groups of stitches from the yarns fed from the same striper being floated across the backs of the stitches formed from the yarn fed by the other striper, in a manner wrlich will be quite plain to those skilled in the a In order to form a compact and economical raised by its associated pattern wheel to latch,

clearing, after they have been passed by the wheel, so as to hold the iioats on the needles not knitted by the wheel, to retain the floats closely .against the fabric, thereby preventing sagging and utilizing a minimum of yarn in the flats, to form a compact, reinforced fabric of maximum economy and of minimum elasticity.

The other striper fed pattern wheel, suchas A, may be associated with a raising cam 55 which raises the needles to the tuck position. A conventional split type cam. 55', such as is disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,970,238, will lower to welt position the needles not knitted by the ngers may be conventionally pivotally mounted on a wrap finger cylinder, suitably positioned directly above the opening in the needle cylinder 52. The apparatus may be set up with an individual nger 60 for each of the needles 5|) on the cylinder.

A wrap finger actuating cam 21 is mounted preferably, on the underside of the upper ring vd and e, will be loop stitches continuous and,

needles d' and e', will knitan individual yarn, such as d and e, exclusively, not knitted by anir other needle on the machine, and that during any knitted course, such needle will' knit no other yarn, so that each stitch formed by needles d' and e' will be of but a single yarn (unless a double yarn is fedby fingers d2 and e2), and the stitches formed from such individual yarns as connected to one another longitudinally or wale- Wise of the fabric. Such yarnsas d and e will have no connection with the other yarns in the fabric by plaiting of stitches,vor in the manner in which yarns a and b are connected, but will `be integrated into the fabric by locking the coursewise floats of yarns a and b Vbetween the loop portions of their own stitches and the floats connecting such loop portions of one stitch to wheel A, in the manner schematically illustrated l I5 above the wheel C, in position to move all the wrap fingers as they are approached bythe active vportionof the pattern wheel, namely, the point contacting the needle cylinder 52 immediately below. to wrapping position, so that if any jack is Y arranged at a particular point on the wheel C;

the wrap fingers 60, directly above the point where such jacks contactthe cylinder will be moved to wrapping position, and will meet"the needles raised to latch clearing by said jacks and wrap yarn about them. And when the wrapped needles are lowered by the associated cam.A to cast-oft position, a loop stitch will be formed on each of such needles, asthey are lowered to the sinker line. l

This'operation is best illustrated in Fig. 2 of vthe drawings, which shows individual yarns, dv

and e, wrapped around needles, d' and e', raised.

to latch-clearing by Jacks 2l of wheel C, by wrap fingers d2 and e2. It will be understood that the wrap finger cams are so arranged that the wrap fingers are released by them, to return to their initial normal position before their respective needles are lowered from latch clearing position, to allow the finger end 59 to pass its respective nneedle on one side, under pressure of the cam and to return to normal position by passing on the other side of the needle, when released by the cam, before the needle is lowered from latch clearing-position, so that the yarn is wiped about both sides of the needle. l

It will be apparent that each needle raised to latch clearing position by wheel C,

the next succeeding stitch formed from the same understood that the tucking of the floats of yarn b, as explained above, will insure the interlocking of even the long floats formed thereby in the loop stitches.

It will be remembered, that several sets or groups of pattern wheels A,` B, and C are arranged on ring I3, andthat each group has at least one pattern wheel C which knits yarn from stationary guides. And it may here be stated that each wheel C o f the several sets may be arranged to cause to knit needles partly or wholly different from those caused to knit by wheels C of the other sets. As each wheel C may operate a large number of needles, it will be clear that a great number of needles, which may equal all of the needles on the machine, may be arranged to knit, in one course or another, individual yarns, in the manner explained, during a single course about the cylinder 52.

To make possible the provision of a, safe numi ber of ends or individual yarns to supply each of such great multiplicity ofneedles on the cylinder that may be knitted by pattern wheels C, I have devised a new and novel stationary spool novel compact yarn guiding and tensioning member. These tensioning guides are so arranged `as to dispose the individual yarns guided by them in laterally 'spaced relation so that they may be readily distinguished from one another and easily handled vand manipulated for connection with the individual wrap fingers. -For that purpose, the guides, .which may preferably be of uniform size, are arranged in vertical rows, in spaced relation to one another, with the rows inclined at an angle, so that the vertical spacing of the tensioning guides will also provide lateral spacing from one another forthe yarns guided by them.

One convenient and practical embodiment of a rack which provides the foregoing advantages.

of compactness `and proper disposition of the yarns relative one another, is illustrated in the drawings, in which the rack comprises an upright post 'IB suitably supported in the hub of the in'- ner ring 22.

A pair of spaced, circular or disk membcrs'or plates may be fixed on the post 30, one, 1|, of a v relatively lesser diameter, on the upper end of the post 10 and another, 12, of a relatively greater diameter on the .lowerportion of the 'post 10.

A plurality of rods or bars 13 are arranged such as preferably in a circle, intermediate the plates, 1I

' diameter than plate 12 the posts 1 supporting member and of a yarn and 12 and secured to such plates adjacent their circumferenceby feet 14. As plate 1| is of lesser will, as a result, be inclined to the vertical, to form a hollow, open-faced `frusto-conical structure. 'I'he rods, 13 are spaced from one another just sufficiently to permit arrangement between them of a spool guiding and tensioning member.

Thespool supporting means may -comprise a plurality of pins 15 secured by one of. their ends to one side of the bar 13 in spaced preferably parallel relation to one another and extending outwardly of the rack structure at an angle to the bar, 13 and to the vertical. It will be readily apparent that, in such position, each pin will be able to support a yarn spool 16 (D and E in Fig. l). And it will be also clearly as these spools supply yarn knitted vertically of the fabric and not circumferentially, the supply Iof yarn carried by them need not be as great as that usually carried on a bobbin of the conventional type and that consequently these spools may be of small diameter, permitting a close spacing of pins 15 and, consequently, permitting realized .that i the arrangement of a large number of pins 15 on each bar 13.

The tensioning guides, generally designated as f 11, are preferably arranged to the other side of the. ar 13 from thegpin 15 with which they are associated. Such tensioning members preferably comprise an arm 18 having an offset end 19 .by which it is secured to the bar 13 preferably in position to maintain the arm 18 parallel to the bar 13 and to the pins 15. The free end 80 of the arm 18 is'forked, with each of the prongs provided with a yarn guiding aperture 8|.

In order to provide sufficient tensioning on the yarn guided in the apertures 8| in the small space between -bars 13 I have devised tensioning means which operates at right angles to the di- In operation, yarn from a spool 18 mounted on a pin 15 is passed through one eyelet 8l of an associated tensioning guide 11 then through the eyelet 85 at the endof the spring wire 82 and then through the second eyelet 8l of the guide 11. It will be apparent that the coil 83 at the end of the spring 82 will tend to force the eyelet 85 away from the forked end 818 thus exerting tension against the. yarn passing therethrough.

To permit leading of the yarns from the rack to the wrap lingers, the lowerplate 12 is provided with apertures 86 which may have suitable eyelets set therein, one for each of the Ipins 15 on the rack. 'I'hese apertures are preferably so arranged as to provide a maximum of space between all the yarns passing and guided therethrough. This maximum spacing may best be obtained by arranging the apertures 88 in a plurality of rows preferably one-for each of the bars 13 with `each row arranged at an angle to a radius of the plate.

For greater ease and convenience in handling the yarn, a guide plate 88 may be provided at substantially the level of the wrap nger ring. This plate 88 may be supported in any suitable manner, as by brackets 88 depending from the web of the inner ring 22.' This plate 88 may also be provided with yarn guiding and spacing apertures 98 similar in form and arrangement to the aperturesof the plate 12. For greater convenience, however, and for greater ease in threading the'4 wrap fingers by increasing the spacing and accessibility od the yarns, the plate 88 may be of a downwardlyv tapering, conical or frustoconical shape torprovide a greater area along which the apertures 88 may be distributed, thus enable the provision of a greater space between the individual apertures.v

This completes a description of the apparatus of the present invention. It will be clearly seen from this description that the present invention, by the novel, thoughrelatively simple arrangement of standard parts,l together with the new and novel stationary spool rack which supplies an individual yarn or end for each needle on the cylinder make possible the production of a knitted fabric in which,- if desired, every stitch may be in in a vertically continuous line of stitches or, if-

desired, may comprise a mixture of course-Wise and vertical stitches.

It Will also be clearly apparent that the present invention provides a machine i-n which vertical knitting may be :combined with the more complex type of course-wise knitting as described in my aforementioned co-pending application' and which may even .be .combined withracking arrangement for the wrap` finger ring to cause the wrap fingers to wrap diiferent needles, in different courses, in a racking staggered arrangement.

What I claim is:

l. Knitting apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a needle bed having needles thereon, cam means for raising selected needles to latch clearing position, said cam means and said needle bed being movable relative to one another, yarn guidingl means associated with said cam means and stationary relative thereto to feed yarn exclusively to the selected needles raised by said cam means, cam means for raising otherselected needles to latch clearing position arranged in fixed relation relative the first named cam means, yarn guiding means associated with the said last named cam means, for feeding, exclusively, an individual yarn to each of the selected needles raised by the said last named cam means, said individual yarn guides being stationary relative to the said first named cam means and a spool rack and associated series of yarn spacing and guiding means stationary relative to the said needle cylinder and each series of yarn guiding means wheel and, each arranged to raise selected needles not raised by the others to latch clearing position, one or more of said cam means provided,

exclusively, with yarn guiding means stationary relative thereto for feeding yarn to allof the needles selectively raised thereby and one or more of` said cam means having, exclusively, yarn guides movable relative thereto for feeding exclusively. an individual yarn to each of the needles selectively raised thereby, a bobblnrack stationary relative said rst namedyarn guiding means and a spool rack stationary relative said second named yarn guiding means, said spool rack including a plurality of spool supporting members arranged in frusto-conical formation above the said cylinder and a yarn guiding and spacing plate arranged'intermediate said spool .needles on the machine to tucking position, each of said cams associated with a pattern wheel having jacks arranged to raise exclusively, selected of the needles to latch clearing position, during a revolution about the cylinder, one or more of said cams in each set each associated exclusively with yarn guiding means mounted on the said table and adapted to feed a yarn to all of the needles raised to latch clearing position by its associated pattern wheel, a wrap finger ring mounted in operative position over said needle cylinder and having a plurality of wrap ngers pivoted thereon, the other of said cams associated with a Wrap iinger moving cam mounted on the table, to move all of the Wrap fingers to wrapping position at a point opposite the point of contact between its pattern' wheel and the needle cylinder, and a yarn spool rack mounted above said wrap finger ring, said rack including a plurality of upstanding, inclined bars, each bar having a plurality of yarn spool supporting pins fixed thereon in spaced relation and at an angle to the bar and to the horizontal, A

and a yarn spacing and guiding plate arranged at an angle to the horizontal, said plate having a plurality of yarn guiding apertures.

4..Knitting apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having needles arranged thereon, a rotary table mounted around said cylinder, a plurality of sets of needle raising cams mounted on said table, each of said sets including two or more cams adapted to raise all of the needles on the machine to tucking position, each of said cams associated with a pattern wheel having jacks arranged to raise, exclusively, selected of the needles to Avlatch clearing position, during revolution about the cylinder, one or more of said cams in each set each associated exclusively with yarn guiding means mounted on the said table raised to latch clearing position by its associated pattern wheel, a wrap ringer ring mounted. in operative position over said needle cylinder and having a plurality of wrap fingers pivoted thereon, the other of said cams beingassociatcd with scribed, comprising in combination a stationary needle cylinder having needles arranged thereon, a rotary table mounted around said cylinder, a plurality of sets of needle raising cams mounted on said table, each of said sets including two or more cams adapted to raise all of the needles on 1 the machine to tucking position, each of said cams associated with a pattern wheel having jacks arranged to raise, exclusively, selected of the needles to latch clearing position during revolution about the cylinder, at least one of said cams formed to continue the needles not raised.

by its pattern wheel in tucking position, one or more of said' cams in each set each associated exclusively with yarn guiding means mounted on the said table and adapted to feed a yarn to all of the needles raised to latch clearing positionl by its associated cam, a wrap linger mounted in operative position over said needle cylinder and having. a plurality of wrap fingers pivoted thereon, the other of said cams being associated with a wrap finger moving cam mounted on the table to move all of the wrap iingers to wrapping position at a point opposite the point of contact between its pattern wh'eel of the needle cylinder,

and a yarn spool rack mounted above said wrap ringer ring, said rack includinga plurality of upstanding inclined bars, each bar having a plurality of yarn spools supporting pins fixed thereon in spaced relation and at an angle tothe bar and to the horizontal, and a yarn guiding plate arranged adjacent the said wrap finger ring at an angle to the horizontal and having a plurality of yarn guiding apertures arrangedl in rows set at an ring.

6. A rack for a knitting machine or the like, for supporting a multiplicity of yarn spools, including a plurality of circularly arranged, diagonally disposed bars, a plurality of spool supporting pins fixed on each of said bars, parallel to and spaced apart from o ne another and at an angle to the horizontal, a yarn spacing and guiding member below said bars, said member having a plurality of spaced 'yarn guiding apertures therein, said apertures being arranged in rows disposed at an angle to a'radius of the-cir'- tal, a plurality of spool-engaging members xed 55. and adapted to feed a yarn to all of the needles on each of said bars in spaced relation to one another,- yarn tensioning means associated with each of said spool engaging members and a yarn guiding and spacing plate below said-bars, set at an angle to the horizontal, said plate having 'a plurality of spaced apertures arranged in rows a wrap finger moving cam mounted on the table to move all of the wrap ngers to wrapping position at a point opposite the point of contact between its pattern wheel and the needle cylinder, and a yarn spool rack mounted above said wrap finger ring, said rack including a plurality of' at an angle to an edge of theplate.

8. Knitting apparatus of thecharacter -de scribed comprising, in combination, a needle cyl'- lnder having needles thereon, a rotary table arranged about the said cylinder, a wrap linger ring arranged above the hollow of said cylinder, a plurality of wrap fingers arranged on the said ring, and a rack for supporting yarn spools for said lingers arranged over the said ring and comprising an open, hollow', frustoconical structure carrying a plurality of spaced pins parallel to one another and at an angle tothe horizontal 4and a yarn guiding plate arranged adjacent said ring, said plate having a plurality ofi yarn guiding apertures.

, 9. A yarn spool rack for 5. Knitting apparatus of the character deangle to the radii of the'said wrap linger knitting machines llevel of said wrap ngers,

-or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart each of said pins associated with a yarn tensionand tensioning members comprising an arinhaving a forked end, the prongs of saidvforked end each having a yarn guiding aperture, a resilient member secured on said arm and having a ing member, a plurality of yarn passages inthe l lower of said plates adapted to permit the passage of yarn from spools supported on the pins and a yarn guiding and spacing plate arranged in operative position and below said perforated plate, said guiding plate having a plurality of spaced individual yarn guiding apertures.

10. In knitting apparatus of the characterdescribed, having a wrap nger ring and a plurality of wrap iingers arranged thereon, a rack for supporting individual yarn supplying spools for each of said wrap fingers, comprising a post xed centrally of said Wrap nger ring, a pair of spaced horizontally disposed members xed to said post, a plurality of bars vixed intermediate said horizontal members, said'bars being inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of spool supporting pins secured to each of said posts in spaced horizontal relation to one another, -and at an angle to said bar and to the horizontal, the lower of said horizontal members having a plurality of yarn passages and a yarn guiding plate supported below said` lower member and at approximately the level of said wrap lingers, said plate having a plurality of spaced yarn guiding apertures arranged in rows disposed at an angle to the radii of the said ring. 1

11. In a knitting apparatus of the character described, having a wrap inger ring and a plurality of wrap lingers arranged thereon, a rack for supporting individual yarn supplying spools for each of said wrap fingers, comprising a post extending above said wrap nger ring, a pair of spaced horizontally disposed members fixed to said post, a plurality of bars xed intermediate said horizontal members, said bars being inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of spool supporting pins secured to each of lation to one another, the lower of said horizontal members having a plurality of yarn passages and a frustoconical yarnyguiding plate below said lower member and at approximately the said plate having a plurality of spaced yarn guiding apertures-` arranged in rows disposed at an angle to the radii of the said ring.

12. A yarn spool rack for knitting machines having a yarn supply and needles and in which the yarn travels generally in a vertical plane in passing from the supply Ato the needles, including plurality of spool supporting members, each of said members being associated with a yarn guiding or tensioning member, said yarn guiding said bars in spaced 're-v yarn guiding eye, said resilient member being arranged to have said eye disposed opposite the apertures in the prongs of said forked end and adapted to be urged away therefrom, whereby the resilient member' urges the yarn in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the yarn travels.

13. In combination with a knitting machine, having a yarn supply and needles of the character described, and in which the yarn travels generally in a vertical plane in passing from the supply to the needles, a yarn tensioning device comprising an arm having a. pair of spaced prongs each provided with a yarn guiding aperture, a resilient member secured on said arm and extending intermediate said prongs and having a yarn guiding eye disposed opposite said apertures, said resilient member being free to urge the yarn away from its position intermediate said prongs and opposite said apertures and in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the yarn travels and thereby to have tension applied to the yarn;

14.; In combination with a knitting machine, having a yarn supply and needl'es, of the character described, and in which the yarn travels generally in a vertical plane i'n passing from the supply to the needles, a yarn tensioning device comprising an arm having a pair of spaced prongs each provided with a yarn guiding aperture, a resilient member secured on said arm and extending to a position intermediate said prongs, said resilient member having a yarn guiding eye to receive the yarn passing through said apertures insaid prongs whereby the tensioning device operates by the movement of the resilient member so as to urge the yarn in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the yarn travels.

15. In combination with a knitting machine,

' having a yarn supply and needles, ofthe character described, and in which the yarn'travels generally in a vertical plane in passing from` the supply to the needles, a yarn tensioning device comprising a support for the yarn supply, an arm having a. bifurcated' end secured to said support,

the prongs of said bifurcated end having aper tures, a resilient member constituted of a spring wire anchored upon said-arm and extending to a point intermediate said apertures, said resilient member having at its end a 'yarn guiding eye', said resilient member being free to urge the yarn in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the yarn travels, and thereby apply tension to the yarn.

RAYMOND K RETSERy 

